George Washington wrote about hearing his Revolutionary War troops singing it. Thomas Jefferson played it in his violin recitals. Paul Revere made the printing plates for it.
"Chester" is a
patriotic anthem sung during the American
Revolutionary War composed by William
Billings (October 7, 1746 – September 26,
1800). Billings is regarded as the first American
choral
composer and leading member of the First
New England School.
Named after a pretty much random city, Billings wrote the first
version of Chester for his 1770 songbook The New England
Psalm Singer, and made improvements for this version in his The
Singing Master's Assistant (1778).
I've arranged it in 2026 for Barbershop chorus, mostly putting Billing's descant-like "treble" in the baritone, and melodic "tenor" in the lead.
Let tyrants shake their iron rod,
And
Slav'ry clank her galling chains,
We fear them not, we
trust in God,
New England's God forever
reigns.
Howe
and Burgoyne
and Clinton
too,
With Prescot and Cornwallis
join'd,
Together plot our Overthrow,
In one Infernal league
combin'd.
When God inspir'd us for the fight,
Their ranks
were broke, their lines were forc'd,
Their ships were Shatter'd in
our sight,
Or swiftly driven from our Coast.
The Foe comes on with haughty
Stride;
Our troops advance with martial noise,
Their Vet'rans
flee before our Youth,
And Gen'rals yield to beardless Boys.
What grateful Off'ring shall we
bring?
What shall we render to the Lord?
Loud Halleluiahs let
us Sing,
And praise his name on ev'ry Chord.
